Only helpline number in the name of safety of elderly persons

Though the Ludhiana police have established a helpline for senior citizens (1090), but nothing else has been done to ensure the safety of elderly persons, especially that used to live alone, far from their family.

Some of the past incidents of crime against elderly persons are enough to explain the seriousness of police about security of senior citizens.

The police failed to advertise the helpline number 1090 that is the reason majority of senior citizens are not aware about it.

The helpline got only two or three calls in a day from the senior citizens that too related to family problems. Most of the complaints of elderly person's are about ill-treatment by their sons and daughter-in-laws.

The police officers said, the complaint received on the number has been referred to concern police stations. The officers from the police station visit the house of the complaint and redress their grievances.

The Metros including Delhi and Mumbai had taken initiative to ensure the safety of elderly persons. The Delhi Police had issued special identity cards to elderly persons registered with them in 2012. The cards contain all necessary details including name of the cardholder, contact number of persons in case of emergency, ailment details, contact number of the cardholders' doctor and their registration number. The police had registered over 13,000 elderly persons with them in one week and deputed nodal officers to contact them time to time to ensure their safety.

Similarly, the Mumbai Police had initiated special drive to ensure safety of elderly persons. Following the initiative taken by the Mumbai Police over 39,000 elderly persons registered them with police. Out of them 4,200 elderly persons were living alone.

Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) says

DCP Harsh Bansal said in the community police programme under Saanjh projects, the police preferred senior citizens in the committees as members. An ACP rant officer is the incharge of the committee. Many of the grievances solved in the meetings of committees. Moreover, the beat incharge of all police stations and Police control room motorcycle staff have been asked to meet and to check the senior citizens living alone.

Some of the incidents of crime against elderly persons

* On intervening night of 17 and 18 December unidentified miscreants struck at a house in Prem Nagar and bludgeoned 85 years old Ameer Singh, who lives alone and fled with his scooter and other valuables. It was the third time when Ameer Singh was fallen prey of miscreants.

* Former employee of the trader had murdered his ex-employer Sudhir Girdhar on the intervening night of November 28-29 and also stabbed his wife with intention to kill at their home at Hira Singh road. The couple live alone in the house.

* On 25 October 70 years old man had committed suicide by hanging at residence of his relative in Hazuri Bagh Colony of Bhattian. The Ladhowal police had registered a case of abetment to suicide under section 306 of IPC against his tenants Nirmal Kaur and Bhagwan Das. The accused allegedly humiliated him.